Silence rules the Bilbao streets after kung fu prostitute murders

The violence and the threats come with the job. The prostitutes try not to talk about them, as though the 30 euros their clients pay for their services included the right to be abusive. Everything gets even more complicated if the woman in question has no residency papers and is scared of being deported.

It is not easy to find anyone willing to talk on Bilbao's Calle de las Cortes in the same month that news broke about the murder of two prostitutes by phony kung fu master Juan Carlos Aguilar. Discretion rules the streets. They are scared, very scared, and they trust no one.

E., a 40-year-old woman from Latin America and mother of two teenage children back home, did trust someone once. But it was the wrong person. She borrowed 4,000 euros from someone she calls a "lender," who helps women get across the Atlantic, promising them a land of plenty where they would soon find a job.

"Several acquaintances came to Spain through her and found jobs caring for elderly people and making around 1,000 euros a month," she says.

They have the right to report assaults, but they still don't, out of fear"

She, however, has not had such luck: in four months "nothing has turned up" and now she works as a prostitute in Bilbao to return the loan within the next two months - otherwise this "lender" is threatening to take her mortgaged home back in her country.

"If I had the money, I would leave tomorrow morning. That's why I'm here, because it's fast cash," she says.

E.'s case is just one of many similar stories. Askabide, the association that works to bring prostitutes back into the fold of society, is only too aware of the vulnerable situation of these women. The association's offices are located just a few steps away from Calle de las Cortes, and its chief, Miriam Arias, states the obvious: "If it is hard enough for us to report certain situations despite having a family, support and our papers in order, how can you expect them to do so in their situation? We make it clear that they have the right to report assaults to the police, but they still don't, out of fear."

Although they come into the offices for different reasons - information, a blood test, a cup of coffee with friends - the prostitutes are largely young immigrant women with relatives to support back home.

"Nothing is static in this life," says Arias.

"I've been at Askabide for 20 years. When I first joined, most [of the prostitutes] were Spanish, and now they're mostly foreigners, although there's still a bit of everything."

Despite the generalized notion that most foreign street workers are here illegally, some have all their papers in order. It's the other side of the coin: they have no debts to repay, and are in this for their own sake. V., a Brazilian who is over 40, is one such woman. She works to support her son, who lives back in Brazil, "and for my little whims, and to pay the 900-euro rent on my apartment."

When she got to Bilbao from Asturias two years ago, she had practically nothing. On her first week, a client stole her new cellphone and 80 euros.And yes, she reported it to the police.

"I am lucky to be able to tell the story, because you never know who you're dealing with," she says.

"You have to be astute, and report abuse. I would do it again, although I understand the undocumented girls who don't."

Arias confirms it: "They are highly exposed to violence, and many do not have their residency permit. It's a difficult hurdle to overcome."

The epic asphyxia Madrid Barca

The Barcelona searched and found in the underworld of the game to force, to a contemplative and cowardly Madrid, the fifth game of the tense and exciting Endesa League final. The Palau is sometimes true to topic and becomes hell. And Barcelona is a block that has won more than one of his many titles intangibles asserting that yield the highest returns in this scenario. The epic, claw, aggressiveness well understood and character are also critical ingredients in the game. We were in the fourth installment. Coldly looked, any analyst had said that Madrid was still higher. But in the heat of battle knew better move Barcelona top finally on the rebound and the inside game, but especially in the management of the minutes. The game entered soon effervescent, midway through the third quarter. Barcelona was when surfaced hardened, tough, aplicadísimo on defense. He left Madrid in 30 points in the second half and scored an epic victory.

Barça Regal, 73 - R. Madrid, 62

Regal Barcelona Marcelinho (11), Navarro (7), Rabaseda (0), Lorbek (11), Tomic (18)-starting five-, Sada (2), Jasikevicius (0), Todorovic (5) Wallace (2 ), English (0), Mavrokefalidis (10) and Oleson (7).

Real Madrid: Llull (9), Rudy Fernandez (8), Suarez (0), Mirotic (6), Begic (4)-starting five-, Draper (7), Felipe Reyes (10), Sergio Rodriguez (6), Carroll (2) and Darden (6).

Partial: 23-17, 11-15, 15-13 and 24-17.

Umpires: Hierrezuelo, and Garcia Conde. Rudy removed by five fouls.

6,219 spectators at the Palau Blaugrana. On Wednesday held the fifth and final match in Madrid (22.00, TVE-1/TV3).

In that passage transcendental, Barca, for one reason or another, had on the court a quintet unheard Marcelinho, Oleson, Rabaseda, Mavrokefalidis and Todorovic. And Navarro, injured, on the bench. With that contingent spurt gave Barcelona. Mavrokefalidis executed with a flurry of shots near the basket and decided the score: 61-52.Madrid failed to counteract the dramatic swing in the back.

One of the plot threads of the series is definitely emotional. At Madrid wins Barcelona responded, jilted in the first game and overwhelmed in the third.The last Friday hit the waterline Xavi Pascual. The nuances gained more weight, was underlined their inferiority on the rebound, defend their difficulty Felipe Reyes, the loose paper from their bases, especially Marcelinho, which was not his day as Tomic, hurt by the mistakes from the start , and definitely physically collapsed at the end and at the mercy of the wrist, suddenly Mirotic infallible. Two days later, everything changed completely in the first quarter. Tomic marveled, tireless, infallible, well attended and well accompanied by Lorbek, with which alternated in the low post and drove down the street from bitterness to Begic and Mirotic.Barcelona took over the rebound, mainly offensive. He administered the same medicine to Madrid. He rode in the first quarter (23-15). There was no free throws in those first 10 minutes and missed a lot of triples.

The second unit of Madrid, with the arrival of Felipe Reyes, Slaughter and Sergio Rodriguez, changed the landscape. The Barcelona attack with Sada, Oleson, English, Mavrokefalidis and Todorovic, wrecked. The pace of play slowed. Felipe Reyes returned to be a lethal weapon.Mavrokefalidis looking outwitted midrange shots and was infallible. Sergio Rodriguez spun the plays often getting the lion's den. A triplazo his, almost resting on the horn, left the score with a minimum difference: 34-32.

The Madrid is Barcelona raised serious difficulties which sometimes stuck to the mixed zone defense or ordered Laso and was at times surprised by players like Draper or Darden. But Barcelona, ​​despite Jasikevicius gatillazos, Wallace and English, optimized its resources. His 44 points razed pivots between a tremendous Tomic, author of 18 points and 11 rebounds, Lorbek and invaluable contributions of Mavrokefalidis and Todorovic.

The 13 rebounds Barcelona more than Madrid. Wrecked in triples Madrid team, with March 1, 18, and lacked the temper and aggressiveness of its rival to seize a golden opportunity to have sentenced the league. Finally finished two points, 63-61, with just two minutes, but moments later annealed finished when the referees gave Barcelona band for a ball that appeared to give in Tomic. Rudy Fernandez protested and referees punished him with a technique which involved removal. The Barcelona no mistake and forced the fifth and final match on Wednesday in Madrid (22.00, BBC1 and TV-3) which will be vital to know under what conditions will Navarro, although his team yesterday, learned to win without him in the last stretch.

A gay boy gets withdraw an award to a homophobic politician in the U.S.

Neergard Marcel is a 11 year old openly gay now holding with his family in the State of Tennessee (USA) have won a battle against John Ragan, a local politician who had received the award for best legislator of the year. Ragan supported a law prohibiting teachers mention all sexuality class unrelated to procreation.

Neergard been bullied for years by their sexual orientation so they decided to study an entire course at home. This student has managed to withdraw the prize Ragan, a feat for him and his family that is a victory for the rights of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender). "I suffered bullying in fifth grade. I wrote my feelings in a diary, and I read it again a year later. I corrected the grammar and decided to post it on the Internet. Then I learned that Ragan had received this award, my mother told me and asked if I wanted to do something about it. I said, "Of course!" Says this young by email.

Neergard Ragan began his fight against a petition with MoveOn.org to be taken off the political prize for supporting Protection Act in the Classroom, stop leading Tennessee in Congress several months. To many experts, this measure threatens the diversity and encourages bullying. The campaign had more than 50,000 signatures and finally StudentFirst organization, sponsored the award, Ragan took the prize. "I am very happy that StudentFirst has taken my side to fight against bullying in schools, but there is still much to do to ensure that what has happened to me will not happen again to any child more" says the young man.

Neergard that this summer is going to enjoy his victory. "Once back to school next year I want to share my experience and make it a safer place for everyone." "I love learning" continues Neegard, "I am very excited to return to my school". "In fifth grade, students were mean to me, were verbal abuse, assaults rarely. They called me a fagot, girl-boots (as always wearing them, they were my favorite and black). My colleagues used the word gay as an insult, really hurts your partners use against you something that defines you as a person. "

According recounts his father, Neegard once had suicidal thoughts during the time he suffered bullying, even the "most were simple teasing insults, was intolerable to him." "Do not tell anyone, we found a day that we went to school and saw hitting another student with the backpack".

"Being who you are is something that you have to feel proud. People who are going through the same thing I would tell you never to leave being the same, "continues the child. "Seek help from an adult if you suffer harassment. With all this I have learned that everyone has the ability to fight for what you believe is right. Just because we are small, does not mean we're not anything, "he continues Neegard.

This young man would love to work with GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) in some of his campaigns, for example, promote Spirit Day, a day in which people dress in purple shirts to support the gay community. "My dream? Lawmakers approve a regulation against bullying in schools "ends Neegard.

Soccer star Messi accused of four-million-euro tax fraud

Barcelona’s public prosecutor for financial crimes on Wednesday presented a lawsuit against soccer player Lionel Messi for allegedly defrauding the Spanish tax system of over four million euros.

The Argentinean star’s father, Jorge Horacio Messi, has also been cited in the charges, which relate to a failure to declare part of the star’s earnings from his image rights in tax declarations made between 2007 and 2009.

Messi, who will be 26 years old later this month, has denied committing any infraction. “We have always attended to all our tax obligations following the advice of our financial consultants, who will take charge of clearing up this situation,” read a statement on his Facebook page.

Over those three years, Messi obtained “significant earnings” for transferring his image rights to third parties. He should have declared these to the Spanish tax authorities, but never did in all that time.

According to the suit, it was Messi’s father who came up with the alleged tax avoidance “strategy,” which the player “ratified” when he turned 18. The scheme purportedly revolves around “pretending” to transfer the Barcelona player’s image rights to front companies in the tax havens of Belize and Uruguay.

The setup, said public prosecutor Raquel Amado, allegedly allowed Messi’s earnings to be transferred from the companies paying for his image rights to the tax haven-based businesses without being subject to barely any tax and without the knowledge of the Spanish tax office.

Spain’s central bank chief confirms bailout extension option

The governor of the Bank of Spain has confirmed that the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy may in October decide whether or not to ask for an extension on the maturity of the loan it received from its European partners to bail out the country’s banks.

As EL PAÍS has published, the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the IMF — the so-called troika — have been pushing Spain to seek to extend the period in which the loan remains available in order to provide a cushion against any further volatility in the sovereign debt markets as a result of additional bank stress tests to be carried out on European lenders. The Bank of Spain has also recently tightened coverage for loans that have been refinanced or restructured that could lead to banks being required to make more provisions.

The Rajoy administration has argued that should the nationalized banks need more capital, it will be able to fund this in the market. But it is not averse to seeking to extend the maturity of the loan provided that this does not come with additional conditions.

Spain has only tapped around 41 billion euros of the 100 billion made available to it by the European Stability Mechanism (ESM). Most of the 41 billion euros went to recapitalize Bankia, Novagalicia and Catalunya Banc, which have been nationalized.

“The government will have to take this decision and I suppose that will be in October,” Linde said at a seminar in Montreal on Monday.

“When you look at whether additional provisions might be necessary, we’re talking about banks that are under state control,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg. “We don’t expect these banks will need a new injection of capital, but we will have to wait until September to see how the economy evolves and the earning of the banks.”

Civil Guards raids capture two wanted ETA members in Gipuzkoa

Two suspected ETA members were arrested in early-morning raids Tuesday in the Gipuzkoa localities of Andoain and Urnieta. The Civil Guard said that Jon Lizarribar Lasarte and Rubén Gelbentzu González formed part of the Izarbeltz terrorist cell, which carried out four bombing attacks in 2002 against the University of Navarre, the Corte Inglés department store in Zaragoza and two local businesses in the Basque Country.

The operation was the fruit of analysis of documents seized from several ETA leaders in France. The Civil Guard said the current investigation into the Izarbeltz cell remains ongoing.

Gelbentzu, 35, and Lizarribar, 36, had previously been arrested in 2003 and 2004 respectively and charged with belonging to a terrorist organization. Lizarribar was sentenced to six years in prison by French authorities after being arrested in a stolen vehicle with a firearm and false documents in the southwestern area of Billac. At the time of his arrest a European warrant was in force for his capture.

At his 2007 trial, prosecutors stated he had spent time at several addresses with other ETA members in Limoges, Coulaines and Le Mans, suggesting he was a member of the organization's logistics network and responsible for harboring terrorists on French soil.

Gelbentzu's arrest in 2003 was part of a police operation against ETA's recruitment apparatus. Twelve other suspects were detained in the operation but Gelbentzu was released on bail and ordered to report weekly to court.

Anti-terrorist security sources told Europa Press that the two detainees were not active and did not maintain contact with the organization's hierarchy. ETA declared an end to armed action in October 2011.

Urdangarin collected 10,000 euros for meetings, says former partner

Iñaki Urdangarin, the king's son-in-law who is the target of a public fraud investigation, charged 10,000 euros for each meeting he held with businessmen to help drum up support for conferences and sports events that his non-profit Nóos Institute was organizing, a witness testified Monday.

Álex Sánchez Mollinger, a friend of Urdangarin who also participated in some of the meetings, told a Palma de Mallorca judge that the Duke of Palma collected 30,000 euros from the Valencia soccer team in exchange for a pledge to look for sponsors. The search failed to bear fruit but Urdangarin still collected his cash.

Previously, another witness, Fernando Roig, testified that Urdangarin was paid 600,000 euros for a similar task on behalf of the Villarreal team.Roig serves as president of the soccer club.

Judge José Castro, who is spearheading the inquiry, also took a statement from Mario Sorribas, who was once a close aide to Urdangarin, about Aizoon, the real estate and property firm the royal co-owned with his wife, Infanta Cristina. Sorribas revealed that there were no workers at the firm.

The judge is specifically looking at whether Aizoon was used as a front company to allegedly avoid paying some 240,000 euros in taxes from 2007 to 2008. Castro has opened an investigation into Princess Cristina's tax returns. She was initially officially implicated in the embezzlement case against her husband but that decision was later left in abeyance.

Urdangarin is being investigated for fraud, tax evasion, falsifying documents and embezzling six million euros in public funds as head of the non-profit Nóos Institute.